Fassel Deflects Successor Rumor

October 25, 2002|By JOHN ALTAVILLA; Courant Staff Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Eagles first-year offensive coordinator Brad Childress is near the top of the list of candidates Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi is considering should the team decide to dismiss Jim Fassel after the season, according to a story in Wednesday's Trenton (N.J.) Times.

``I've got too many other things to worry about right now than something like that,'' Fassel said. ``It bothers you when someone obviously makes something up like that, but it's something you have to get used you. I don't like it, but what can you do? Every time I've been picking up the paper lately, I've been reading things about Mike Holmgren [Seattle], Dick LeBeau [Cincinnati] and Jeff Fisher [Tennessee].''

An NFL source told the Times Accorsi is ``enamored'' with the job Childress, 46, has done developing Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and might like to talk to him if the Giants (3-3) fail to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Accorsi, speaking through a Giants spokesman, said he was incensed by the report and dismissed its content.

``Brad's a great coach and I hope the Giants stay away from him,'' McNabb said Wednesday. ``But we realize in years to come, he's going to be a head coach somewhere.''

Apparently, Childress is preparing for that. He has hired agent Bob LaMonte, who represents eight of the NFC's 16 head coaches.

Fassel, in his sixth season as Giants coach, has three years remaining on a four-year, $10.6 million contract extension signed after Super Bowl XXXVI. Although Fassel is considered an offensive specialist, the Giants have scored only 86 points, fewest in the NFC. They also have scored only seven offensive touchdowns, despite having the best receivers during Fassel's tenure.

Childress was the Eagles' quarterbacks coach in 1999-2001. Before joining Philadelphia, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wisconsin through Ron Dayne's junior season. Dayne, the Heisman Trophy winner in 1999, has struggled in his three seasons with the Giants.

During Childress' career at Wisconsin, the Badgers played in five bowl games, including a 38-31 victory over UCLA in the 1999 Rose Bowl. In 1993, the Badgers set a school record and ranked fourth in Big Ten Conference history, averaging 455.2 yards a game.